GRAND RAPIDS -- A cutting-edge biotech company is expanding from California to Grand Rapids, bringing more than 500 jobs and boosting the region's life science sector.

Sequenom Inc., based in San Diego, is choosing West Michigan for a $20.3 million expansion for its prenatal diagnostic testing technology. The company is developing non-invasive tests using the mother's blood to reliably detect genetic disorders in the fetus as early as the first trimester of pregnancy.

The company is buying existing lab space for now, with plans to construct its own labs here.

The prenatal testing technology can isolate and analyze fetal nucleic acid from a maternal blood sample. Eventually, the technology could provide tests for chromosome or gene abnormalities in a fetus, such as the RhD factor, Downs Syndrome, and gender-linked disorders.

Today it was slated to win $20 million in state tax incentives, granted over a 15-year period. Grand Rapids is expected to grant Sequenom a tax abatement this fall.

The biotech company is a perfect fit for the goals of The Right Place economic development group, bringing hundreds of high-paying jobs with wages topping $1,700 a week.

News of jobs, expansions, and high-tech companies coming to town is sweet music to a region suffering from recession and a 6.4 percent unemployment rate.

But Sequenom is not the only good news winning the state's stamp of approval.

Office-furniture suppliers and Bissell Home Products Inc. are also on the agenda of the Michigan Economic Growth Authority in Lansing.

Such diversity is crucial for the region's economic health, said Right Place President Birgit Klohs. Industrial design and life sciences are two hot targets.

"These projects demonstrate that West Michigan is moving from potential to reality in those areas," she said.

Bissell Homecare Inc. will expand its research and development, and marketing capacity at the site, including adding a second floor to the existing building.

The $9 million project will renovate the ground floor and build a second floor, adding 10,000 square feet of office space to the building that now has 16,000 square feet on one level.

Bissell said it will retain 79 jobs paying an average of $1,260, while creating 106 new positions with weekly pay at $1,209. State and local tax incentives total $2.42 million.

An expansion for Genesis Seating will recycle the former Yamaha musical instrument plant at 3445 East Paris Ave. SE, Kentwood.

The $3.1 million investment is expected to add 131 jobs to the 90 already on the company's payroll.

Genesis is one of three area furniture suppliers now subsidiaries of Leggett & Platt Inc., based in Carthage, Mo. Other expansions planned by the parent company include:

-- Davidson Plyform Inc., 5505 33rd St. SE, Cascade Township, for a $5.6 million plant expansion. It will add 45 jobs to the 162 employed now. Davidson and Genesis have been sharing the Cascade Township plant.

-- Grand River Polishing is the latest acquisition by Legget & Platt. Its plant is in Spring Lake Township, and upgrades to the factory will cost $620,000. The project creates 57 new jobs, nearly doubling the 30 currently employed.

Combined, the expansions at the three Legget & Platt subsidiaries will add 233 jobs paying $465 a week, and bring $9.1 million in investment. They qualify for $2 million in state and local tax incentives, with Kentwood, Cascade Township and Spring Lake Township still to act on tax abatement requests.